REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Limitless · 06-04-2012, 11:00 PM

Been stuck on this thing for a week or so now.. I was trying to install springs onto the OEM struts on my 1993 civic hatch and I can't seem to get the bolt connecting the LCA out. I sprayed it periodically over 3-4 days with pb blaster, but it didn't help. The middle bolt that connects the strut to the LCA actually broke near the end where the threads connect with the welded nut when I tried to get it off with an impact wrench. I tried to just drop the entire control arm, and managed to get 1 of the 2 bolts free (the one closer to the middle), but the last bolt that's closer to the rotor is dead stuck. The head of the bolt is also a bit stripped as well, so now it just kind of turns :/

The bolt to the right directly facing the camera is the one that is stuck on my car.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do at this point? I'm not very comfortable with drilling out the screw as that never ends well when I do it lol... I'm pretty fed up with it right now and if a shop could do it for under $50 I wouldn't mind just taking it there. But at the same time I'm a bit worried about driving it since the bolt connecting the strut to the lca did snap off (though the strut is still stuck there and I can't seem to get it off). If I were to take it to a shop, does anyone have any recommendations on where to go that's nearby so I won't have to drive very far? I live right by BCIT on Canada Way

Thanks in advance

6o4allmotor · 06-05-2012, 12:25 AM

Cut off wheel,most of the time the bolt will rust and seize it self into the bushing collar. So you may also have to cut off the welded nut and install a new nut and locking washer.

MindBomber · 06-05-2012, 12:32 AM

Cut off wheel or reciprocating saw, you could use a hack saw too but you'd be there for a long time. The problem is exactly what 604allmotor described, it's pretty common. Make sure the replacement bolt is a minimum of Grade 8.

I cover suspension bolts in bearing grease before reinstalling.

Limitless · 06-05-2012, 01:50 AM

So if I cut off the welded nut with the seized bolt still in there, then I should just be able to pull the bolt out by the head right?

6o4allmotor · 06-05-2012, 12:04 PM

You may get lucky or the bolt is seized also in side the metal bushing sleve and maybe a punch may get it out. Ive always just replaced the bushing when i get a seized bolt in it.

afadafa · 06-05-2012, 12:36 PM

The classic EG rear strut to LCA bolt seize lol. When I had my EG, I don't think I met one EG owner who didn't have this same problem. I actually had to cut off the head of the bolt and the other side with a steel saw, took off the entire assembly and brought it to a machine shop. They used their hydraulic press and forced the bolt and bushing out. Bought a new bushing and bolt from Honda afterwards and the same shop press it back in.

afadafa · 06-05-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limitless

So if I cut off the welded nut with the seized bolt still in there, then I should just be able to pull the bolt out by the head right?

I'm almost entirely confident that just cutting the welded nut will not free it up so that you can simply slide it out. The whole bolt is most likely rusted and seized inside the bushing.

When I took off the LCA with the bolt still stuck inside, I used lubricant, clamped it on a vice and pounded the bolt with a sledge hammer, mind you I had all the room and space to hammer away and it wouldnt move a centimeter, the whole bushing + bolt had to go.

Phil@rise · 06-05-2012, 01:24 PM

Cut the bolt burn out or press out the bushing and install new bushing at this age it needs it anyhow and install the proper oem bolt. Grade 8 bolt will not be metric it will be SAE size and will have play. When you reinstall the new bolt use lots of anti sieze in the bushin sleeve to prevent this from happening again

Phil@rise · 06-05-2012, 01:26 PM

If you can remove the LCA and strut as one you can bring the assembly to our shop and we can perform all what I suggested

Limitless · 06-05-2012, 03:28 PM

The passenger side lca had no problems at all lol

I was hoping that if I could cut off the welded nut it would help, since the middle bolt on the same driver side LCA snapped clean right where it contacted the nut and I was able to get the rest of the bolt out, though when I got it out it was rusted. But I don't really have the room to comfortably cut it off right now arg, unless I can get the LCA out which I can't because of that bolt

I can't jack the car high enough to get under there with enough room to work an angle grinder and I don't have any other cutting tools except for a dremel which isn't going to do much.

I want to take it to a shop but at this point I'm not sure if it's safe to drive.. I can put the bolt connecting the LCA back on but the bolt that connects the strut to the LCA has snapped off so the strut is only being held on one side where the bolt is seized in the nut. I can put the other end of the bolt with the bolt head back on but it will just be sitting there and the only thing holding it on would be the weight that pushes the strut down

tarobbt · 06-05-2012, 06:56 PM

Pb blaster, a couple of whacks with a hammer and a torch usually works for me.

godwin · 06-05-2012, 11:11 PM

To solve your stripped bolt problem.. it might help if you weld a sacrificial socket and on to the stripped bolt.. or just use a nut splitter. You don't want to drill it out because you need a pretty big drill bit.

I find using leverage instead of just impact drill is much safer on tired old metal.

Get a BCAA membership I think you get one free tow a year to a shop?

fliptuner · 06-21-2012, 10:15 AM

I noticed the car's lowered now. What did you end up doing?

The_AK · 06-21-2012, 08:09 PM

fuck i fear i might come across this issue too when i replace my front lca 3 weeks from now

fliptuner · 06-21-2012, 08:16 PM

front doesn't have this problem usually

dinamix · 06-21-2012, 09:58 PM

torch and hammer. works everytime

MG1 · 06-22-2012, 01:56 AM

+1 on torch

Limitless · 06-22-2012, 11:46 PM

Thanks for all the help guys, forgot to update the thread x.x I got the driver rear LCA back on but the strut looked like it was bent in a weird angle since it was only being held on by one side. Couldn't line up the strut properly to stick the broken bolt back in to connect it to the LCA so I just drove super slowly to a shop that was closest to me which was like 3 minutes away luckily. The strut ended up popping off the other end of the bolt and was just resting on the LCA by the weight of the car by the time I got there. Shop ended up cutting off the nut to get the broken bolt off and just replaced it with a nut and washer and put a new bolt on there for me to connect the strut. They couldn't get enough room to get the stripped bolt off the LCA because I forgot to give them the key for my wheel lock

so they just left it lol